Posts Tagged ‘lower jaw’

A Beautifully Built Head and Neck

Arabian horses have a distinct beauty that is cherished today, just as it was centuries ago in the Middle Eastern desert by the ancient Bedouins. This beauty is not only cosmetic but the Arabian horse’s build also give it some great advantages.

Let’s take a look at the head and neck of the Arabian:

o A refined, wedge-shaped head that is finely chiseled
o A broad forehead
o Large, lustrous eyes that are set far apart
o Large nostrils
o Small ‘teacup’ muzzles
o Lips that are fine and thin
o Ears that are smaller in stallions and of good size in mares. They are set evenly together and they have great flexibility.
o The skeleton of the head is characterized by a relative shortness of skull, slender lower jaw, and a larger size brain area within the skull.

The Arabian’s head has always been considered a thing of beauty and the Arabian’s face really sets it apart from other horse breeds.

The majority of Arabian horses display a distinctive concave or “dished” profile. Also, many Arabians have a forehead bulge between their eyes, known as the Jibbah. The Islamic people believed the Arabian horse was a gift from Allah and that the forehead bulge held his blessings. From a physical standpoint, the forehead bulge gives the Arabian extra sinus capacity, a plus for endurance. Another characteristic that helps with breathing and endurance is the arched neck with a large, well-set windpipe set on a refined, clean throat latch. This high-arched neck often signified courage to the ancient Bedouins and Islamics. The cheek bones are spread wide apart at the throat, typically between five or six inches. This enables the muzzle to be drawn in without compressing the Arabian horse’s windpipe, and permitting the animal to breathe easily when running. As you can see from some of the characteristics that an Arabian has in its head and neck, this horse is built for long rides and running.

A Powerful Body, Bred to Perfection

Arabian horses have a broad chest and a short, but strong back and sloped shoulders which give them power and floaty gaits. In general, all horses that are bred to gallop or run need a good length of croup (posterior or backside) and a good length of hip for proper attachment of muscles (as a rule, both go together). Typically, a good-quality Arabian has both a relatively horizontal croup and a properly angled pelvis with good length of croup and depth of hip (or length of pelvis) to allow agility and impulsion. Of course, within the Arabian breed there are variations:

An Arabian horse with wider, more powerfully muscled hindquarters is more suitable for intense bursts of activity such as reining.

An Arabian horse with longer, leaner muscles is better suited for endurance riding or horse racing.

Size and Colors

Arabian horses typically stand between 14.1 and 15.1 hands (57 to 61 inches) tall. Of course there will be an occasional horse that is over or under this. Therefore, all Arabians, regardless of their height, are classified as horses even though 14.2 hands is the traditional cutoff height between a horse and a pony. A common misconception is that the purebred Arabian isn’t strong due to its smaller height. Their bone density, though, is much greater than that of many other breeds. This gives the Arabian breed physical strength that is comparable to many taller animals.

For color, Arabian horses are bay, gray, chestnut, and black and sometimes roan. Common markings on Arabians include:

* Stars, stripes, or blaze faces
* Snip noses
* A white foot or more, or white stockings

Arabian horses that appear white are actually gray since their skin is black. White hair on horses grows out of pink skin. Arabian horses follow suit and any white markings found will show white hair growing out of pink skin.

A Pleasant Disposition

Arabian horses are well known for being affectionate and bonding well with humans. This goes back to their early history with Bedouin tribes in the Middle Eastern desert. The ancient Bedouins and Arabian horses lived inter-dependently as a means of survival. The Bedouins often prized these animals and sheltered them from the harsh elements of the desert by keeping them in their family tend. A strong bond formed and through the centuries, the Arabian breed has kept its gentleness and its willingness to learn and please. This makes purebred Arabians perfect for activities such as riding and showing and it makes them a perfect horse for children and families to enjoy. Having such a mild and gentle temperament makes Arabians one of the few breeds that the United States Equestrian Federation allows children to exhibit stallions in nearly all show ring classes, including those that are limited to riders under 18.

A High Intelligence to Boot

Arabian horses are classified as a “hot-blooded” horse. Even though they are in the “hot-blooded” category, most Arabians have a natural tendency to cooperate with humans. This category includes other refined, spirited horse breeds that are bred for speed such as Thoroughbreds. Like other hot-bloods, the sensitivity and intelligence of Arabians enable them to learn quickly. It also enables riders to communicate with Arabians more easily than other horse breeds. Thus training them is typically easier than other horse breeds.

A Perfectly Engineered Horse

Throughout the ages, romantic myths and stories have been told about Arabian horses that give them near-divine characteristics. The ancient Bedouins and Islamics considered these horses perfect, prizing them for their unparalleled beauty, sturdiness, stamina, high intelligence, and friendly nature. Virtually unchanged through careful breeding, Arabian horses still exemplify these same characteristics today and their popularity continues to grow.

Randy Meyer, along with his family, are well-respected breeders of high-quality, beautiful purebred Arabian horses on their farm, Red Oak Arabians. They usually have fine quality Arabian horses for sale at all times.

Author: Randy Meyer
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Smiling shark

There are many signs that will tell you whether your horse is healthy and doing well or if he is a little off and not feeling so great. As a horse owner, or potential horse owner, it is important that you be able to recognize these signs. This is especially important if you are considering buying a horse, you will want to know that the horse is healthy before you buy him.

The healthy horse will stand squarely on all four feet. A healthy horse will never rest a forefoot unless the foot or leg is unsound. They will rest their hind feet when they are relaxed or bored. The healthy horse will also have a shiny coat that is soft and lies down flat and smooth. The horses eyes are wide open and the inside of the eye is salmon colored. This color will also be seen in the horses gum and nostrils. The limbs and joints of the horse should be free of heat or swelling. You can check for heat by rubbing your hands down both legs and comparing them to each other.

The healthy horse will also have a normal appetite and will be willing to eat. His skin will be moist, but not sweaty. His breathing will be quiet and even when he is at rest. His pulse should also be steady and even. You can feel the pulse by placing the tips of your fingers over the large artery under the lower jaw and immediately in front of the heavy muscle of the cheek. In mares and geldings, the pulse is usually around thirty-three to forty beats per minute. In stallions, it is usually around twenty-eight to thirty-two beats per minute. Younger horses will have faster pulses.

The healthy horse will also have four to eight bowel movements in a twenty-four hour period. You will also be able to hear gut sounds if you place your ear to the flank of the horse. The bowel movements should be odor free and not have any mucus or worms present. The urine of the horse will be light yellow and he will eliminate five or more times per day.

The sick horse will have an abnormal attitude. He may lie down at odd times and in odd positions. If a horse has advanced laminitis, he may even sit like a dog because it hurts to put pressure on his feet. A horse suffering from colic may lie on his back. The sick horse may also have a dull coat and the hairs will not lie down.

The mucous membranes may be off color. There are several colors that suggest different conditions. Pale membranes usually mean that the horse is anemic, a yellow tinge suggests liver problems, a dark red may suggest a fever and a blue-red may suggest a heart or circulation problem.

The horse will also have an abnormal appetite and may not care about feed that you give him. The skin may feel tight and dry or he may be sweating profusely. His temperature will also be high. In horses, a low fever is around 102.5 degrees, a definite fever will be at 104 and 106 is high and suggests that the hose may have an infection. The horse may also have a high pulse and breath either too slow or rapidly. A sick horse may also have a noisy and labored way of breathing.

The horse may have droppings of an abnormal consistency or color. If the horse has serious constipation, the horse may not have any gut sounds. The urine of the horse may also be an unusual color or consistency. They may also have pain while urinating and the amount may be excessive or very little.

There may also be heat in the legs of the horse. Some infections may cause the horses legs to swell and may not always be a sign of lameness.

These are very important signs to watch for. If you board a horse and notice that a horse doesnt look like his usual self, you are better safe than sorry to let someone know. Alert barn managers and owners about the horse and his condition. If the horse is your own, alert your veterinarian if the condition seems serious. If the horse seems a little off, you might ask your barn manager or barn friends to keep a watchful eye on him and alert you if the condition becomes worse. Many times a horse will pick up a bug and will be off for a day or so. If the horse does not get better, you will want to seek medical attention.

Author: Ron Petracek
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty